Gift of snow and sun at day's end /  by Carey Pace

We expected three inches.  We got beyond eight! Then I got a double gift by the snow clouds leaving and giving me sunshine at the day's end to try my hand at photographing in sunset snow. It was a dry, powdery snow that wouldn't make a snowball to save your life.  Certainly not a snowman (despite our efforts).  Honestly, it resembled FAKE snow more than real snow. I've never experienced a snow just like this one! 

But it dazzled and sparkled and floated and made my heart skip a beat unlike any other snow I can recall. 

1SE 2016 - One Second Everyday year 2 /  by Carey Pace

Two years ago today, I started this little project.  Didn't know where it would lead.  All these days later, I cannot imagine ever turning back.  My family loves this so incredibly much.  It's our favorite thing we've ever created.  And the memories from both years sitting down all togehter for the official first viewing -- goodness.  There just aren't words.  I wish you all would embark on your own 1SE.  

I would LOVE to create this with my DSLR instead of with my phone... but I'm living in reality.  In this stage of my life, with probably 100,000 no exaggeration photos I've not bothered to sift through, I know I wont' manage to sit down and get 1 second clips of DSLR video mashed together.  The ease of the app and the accessibility of my phone make a magic combo.  For now, this is a compromise I happily make.  

Thank you to the creators of the 1 Second Everyday app. I owe you so much. 

stories 2017 - week 1 /  by Carey Pace

We knew when we agreed to move here that we were risking forsaking childhood memories of snow. Further east, lower elevation, and less mountainous. All things working against the gift of mighty snowstorms. We knew there were years, sometimes seasons of years, where this new place went without snow at all.

I bought the gear anyway. I always have, every year in new sizes. Always a gamble whether it would go unused.

Insulated boots to keep toes warm. Rugged snow bibs (not just pants where the snow surprises you going down your backside). Special gloves that go up to your elbows so they don’t come loose while you play. Thermal under layers both thin and warm. I never want them to know the feeling of frozen AND wet.

The risk has paid off. Two snowstorms last year each gave us more than we’d ever seen in Tennessee. And now, last Saturday morning we awoke to a Narnian wonderland.

This post is part of a collaborative photography project with 14 other artists.  Visit the group here. Tomorrow I'll share sunset of this snowstorm gift. 

The Boy came down with a mysterious illness Friday evening that only shares the symptom of a fever.  Most unfortunately he just didn't feel well when we went out to play and head in early ahead of all of us.